Your Global Minute: The Muslim Brotherhood

When I heard the term Muslim Brotherhood being thrown around in connection with the uprising in Egypt, I first presumed it was an American media skewing on the state of things in Cairo. Turns out, the Muslim Brotherhood is a large, influential Islamic organization not only in Egypt but throughout the world. They're also a peaceful group, and have long ago sworn off violence as a means to achieving their ends. So they're not jihadists - in fact, Osama bin Laden has criticized them for this. Basically, the MB seeks to establish an Islamic state, but not through jihad. Rather, their efforts have focused on preaching their religious teachings, teaching the illiterate, and setting up hospitals.

American news media seems to support the idea that the MB would take over the new Egyptian government (however that evolves), but one thing that many of them fail to mention is that the MB commands under 20% of the popular vote in Egypt. That's less than the Tea Party (another radical group, who are arguably more violent) commands in the USA, for reference.

The bottom line: The MB isn't a threat to America or democracy. I don't agree with the influence of religion in government, but I feel like that problem is not entirely fixable in the first place. In my opinion, the MB appears to be a less-powerful, less-violent, and more-benevolent GOP.

(source: Wikipedia!)

"Slightly Overexposed"

Yes, that's a dig at BYT. Not that I have a beef with BYT on a personal tip but honestly I think there are probably better things for me to be doing with my time than cruising a website full of gossip, trendwave bands, and lists of things that are hip on the internet today. Far be it from me to tell anyone else how to live, but if I'm distracted by things like this (yes, yes I am) then someone else probably is, too. The problem with this isn't that BYT or sites like it exist, but that they become overwhelming at times.

Which brings me to my main point here: there is so much information flying at us these days, it's tough to filter out what's important and what's not. BYT may or may not be (depends a lot on the consumer) but universally, very little information is of top priority for everyone. So we're faced with a decision of what information to consume, how often, and from which sources. Everything is information - whether you watch The Simpsons or The Daily Show, you're consuming information at the cost of consuming different, potentially more beneficial information.

So, we've got this constant barrage of information coming at us from all angles. That's fine. It's one thing to prioritize more input than you can reasonably consume - but it's another thing to digest it, compact it, and re-purpose it usefully. What am I reasonably going to do with the knowledge of half of the script of The Big Lebowski on a daily basis, let alone in my professional life? Nothing. But I know it. And instead of remembering something useful, like my checking account number, I can tell you that Bunny Lebowski says "If Brandt wants to watch, he has to pay $100".

We're overstimulated and arguably under-using (usefully) most of the information we're taking in. One of my 2011 Resolutions is to 1. be more selective about what I consume (on a conscious level) and 2. repurpose this hopefully-useful information towards my career goal (international science policy).

Thus far, things are going well. I've established good rapport with my Macroeconomics professor by sharing web articles related to class materials, and progressed in my gains of a solid knowledge foundation in macro. I've also learned a lot more about men's style and fashion, and in the process begun to develop my own particular sprezzatura.

From Now On, I Pay For Everything In Cash

Paying people by personal check is probably the most aggrivating thing in the world for me. The part where I pay you, but you don't cash the check - that's what really irks me. We're all guilty of it, and I've probably forgotten more times than I've remembered to cash a check. The transaction time, that's what kills me. I really just want to make sure that I'm square with everyone and all my debts when I look at my bank account. In a world where everything else can be paid/accounted for instantly, I'm bitchy about everything that isn't.

Doin' It For The Kids: Ohio Woman's School Scam Nets Her Felony Time

So a woman in Akron lied about where she lived to get her kids into a better school district. The district found out about it and took her to court. They determined that she defrauded the school out of more than $30,000 and sent her to jail for 10 days, in addition to having to repay the school district.

A. This whole situation makes no sense to me, because my school district participated in Michigan's Schools of Choice program. Students from other cities (and counties) were allowed to attend schools in my district or any other participating district. The idea that someone could be precluded from attending School District X because their parents don't live in City X is completely foreign to me.

B. It seems like the judge made this woman an example. Sure, they want to deter other people from doing similar things, but really how common are these occurrences? It's unfortunate, because she was in school to be a teacher and a felony record certainly won't help her find work in that field. But fraud is fraud.

C. Was the amount that she did pay in taxes to the Akron public schools taken into account? I understand that she swindled the other school district out of $30,000 - but when they determined how much she owed, did they factor in how much she paid to Akron public schools?

D. This speaks volumes about the disparities in the American education system. If Akron public schools are so bad and another district's schools so good that it's a felony to move your kids between them, how can we expect Akron students to perform at the same levels as at competing districts? And if we don't hold all school districts to the same standards, what does that say about the balance of the playing fields in the "land of opportunity"?

Bottom Line: It's unfortunate that this woman committed a felony to give her kids better opportunities, but that's what happened, by the letter of the law. I think this situation speaks much more to the inequalities in public education than anything else - a woman went to jail for sending her kids to a better school.

Balance and Composure

I should not be blogging. I should be working. At least I'm honest.

This past year has been quite a whirlwind. My girlfriend moved to DC, so I don't have to spend as much time traveling to see her in Boston. This has given me the opportunity to pursue new hobbies. I'm back in school and I've also been attending more Freemasonry meetings (two Blue Lodge meetings this month) with a strong intention of attending more. I'm planning to enter a triathalon in June and am training as such. I also tried my hand/legs at downhill skiing this weekend and definitely want to pursue that again this winter and hopefully for more winters to come.

But I still feel like something is missing. I feel like I need to be creating something. Photots, maybe. Graffiti and music both seem like other areas with low barriers to entry. I've managed to coop up my creativity long enough.

And I want more tattoos!

This Is Happening

In case you were wondering:

1. I'm on the road to grad school, taking a Macroeconomics class at GWU (gunning for a 4.0!) which will likely be followed by Econometrics, Microeconomics, and some sort of public policy course before I would start next fall. Still have to take the GRE and write everything and get letters of recommendation. But we're moving.

2. I passed that WIPO class a few months ago. They're supposed to send me a certificate in the mail, which I will promptly frame and hang in my office if/when they do.

3. Still doing stuff for Dying Scene. It's wearing on me, though. I'm kind of over it.

4. Getting back into Masonry and Lambda Chi Alpha. About time.

5. I started caring about the way I dress in, like, September. I now own nicer shoes, sweaters, and pants, and ties. Also I wear a tie to work every day.

6. Considering buying a Nook, Kindle, or iPad. Mostly just want to read books/comics on it it. Leaning towards the iPad. Not buying anything anytime soon, but keeping an finger on the pulse of things.

7. Started reading comics (kind of again). Working on The Boys, Preacher, The Walking Dead, Y: The Last Man, and Sin City.

Things That Irk Me, Things I Appreciate

Irk
1. the phrase "Obamacare". don't marginalize legislation based on your fear of "higher taxes" and "out-of-control spending". Obama didn't even write the damn thing, and Congress approved it. also, there are no death panels in the legislation. want less federal spending? get our troops out of the middle east.
2. people who turn without signaling. it takes less than a second to use your blinker and it makes your actions predictable and safe on the road. other drivers and pedestrians need you to do this to keep roads safe.
3. the words "Sarah Palin" "President" and "2012" used in the same sentence. there's no way she'd win (convince me, really) so just let it go. unless the GOP starts focusing their energy on developing a real candidate soon, Obama is going to get re-elected and honestly he's not impressed me enough to re-elect him yet.

Appreciate
1. ComicBookLover iOS app and Mac software. i don't want to read textbooks/news articles all the time. this software is all free and lets me put digital versions of comic books onto my phone.
2. Henry Rollins' article in Vanity Fair -READ IT HERE IF YOU HAVEN'T YET - can we please spend more resources on teaching everyone about science or geography and fewer resources supporting/consuming/not marginalizing Jersey Shore?
3. delayed entry for bad weather. thanks for the extra 2 hours today, OPM!